Gov. Steve Beshear has called the General Assembly into special session next week, and legislators will be asked to do some fixing: fix a budget shortfall, fix the state's horse industry, fix bridges and fix the state's programs and incentives for attracting businesses.

The Governor's office is estimating a budget deficit of nearly $1 billion, which he will propose to repair, at least in part, with just more than $700 million in federal stimulus dollars. The rest of the “fix” will come from budget cuts.

Gov. Steve Beshear's proposal to allow video slot machines in the state's racetracks appears to be a bad bet to make it through this special session of the General Assembly.

Though the House narrowly approved the measure, the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee voted Monday against sending it to the floor for a vote. State Sen. Gary Tapp, a member of the committee, was one of the Republicans voting against the House bill.

Officials don't have the exact attendance figures yet for the 2009 Shelby County Fair and Horse Show, but they expect them to be below last year's numbers, said Jeff Hagerman, secretary/treasurer for the Shelby County A & M Association, commonly known as the fair board.